Clutch for window regulators



April 6 1935. D. MILLER 1,997,646

CLUTCH FOR WINDOW REGULATORS Filed Sept. 14, 1955 Dom? ]YZ/LLER Patented Apr. 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 1 99mm cw'ron roa wmnow nacmrroas Dorr Miller, Detroit, Micln, assignor to Dnra Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 14, 1933, Serlal No. 689,450

1 Claim.

This invention relates to regulating mechanism for actuating vehicle windows, but more particularly to clutches or locks for such mecha- Most vehicle window regulators employ a clutch provided with a helical spring which when the operating handle is turned, is contracted to affordiree operating movement, but when the handle is released the window is retained in adjusted position inasmuch as the reverse motion imparted to the spring by the window operates to expand it against the walls of the housing creating sufiicient frictional resistance to militate against movement of the window. It is found that, although this form of clutch gives a certain amount of satisfaction, it

v is not sufliciently positive for all purposes since it affords a certain amount of play or lost motion, particularly in one direction, which is objectionable in connection with vehicle windows, because it enables the window to be pried open far enough to afford access to the inside by a wire or similar instrument.

An object is to produce a clutch or look of this character which overcomes the above objections and is more positive, and effectively resists moving the window in one direction or the other by a force imparted directly against the window.

Other objects are to produce a clutch of this character having the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

For illustrative purposes only the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a verticalsectional elevation of a portion of a window regulator and operating handle therefor;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation o the clutch assembly;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the springs shown in Figure 2 showing the same in spaced relation; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of alternate form of helical spring device embodying a single spring;

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a window regulator having a mounting plate l on which is journaled a gear sector H, to'which is fixed an arm l2 which is operatively connected to the vehicle window (not shown) for actuating the same as by imparting raising and .lowering movements thereto. Meshing with the sector II is a pinion I; which is operated by a handle it disposed in an accessible position on the inside of the vehicle door in any suitable or well known manner. In this instance the pinion I3 is held in the desired relation by a flange I forming a part of the mounting plate 10.

The handle I4 is secured to a stem l6, which bears in a cylinder housing H. The housing ll abuts against the mounting plate I0 and is secured thereto by rivets Hi. The inner end portion I9 0! the stem l6, which is disposed inside of the housing I1, is provided with diametrically opposed longitudinally elongate key portions or ribs 20 and 2|, which turn with the handle l4, as will be readily understood.

The pinion I3 is mounted for rotation on a pin 22 which extends through the flange I5 into a socket 23 formed in the end portion 19 of the handle stem. Secured to the pinion i3 and movable therewith is a substantially U-shaped bushing 24, which extends outside of the stem extension 19 and in inwardly spaced relation to the walls of the housing l1. As shown, the bushing 24 is provided with elongate arcuate flange portions 25 and'25 disposed in opposed relation, the flange 25 being somewhat wider than the flange 26. Encircling the bushing 24 are two abutting helical springs 21 and 28, the spring 21 having inturned end portions 29 and 30, and the spring 28 having inturned end portions 3| and 32. The inturned ends 30 and 3 I, which, when the springs are properly assembled, are disposed in juxtaposed relation, extend through slots 32 and 33 respectively, formed in the bushing flange 25. The slots 32- and 33 extend inwardly from the free end of the bushing flange 25 to approximately the central portion and enable the springs to be assembled in the housing and the bushing inserted in an extremely simple manner. The opposite or outside spring end portions 29 and 32, which are remote from each other, are arranged adjacent the key or flanges 20 and 2i respectively of the handle stem and between these flanges and the opposite side edges of the bushing flange 25.

In operation, when the handle I is turned in one direction (counter clockwise Figure 3) the key 2| is moved into engagement with the inturned end 32 of the spring 28, and forces this end against the adjacent edge of the bushing flange 25, thereby contracting the spring 28 to prevent frictional engagement between the same and the walls of the housing II. Upon further movement of the handle stem in this direction,

the bushing is turned in a counter clockwise direction (Figure 3) and the inturned end 80 pullsor drags the spring 21 around with the bushing. This action takes place without alteration of the spring 21 so as to enable the parts to move substantially without irictional re- Upon release or the operating handle it the weight or the window, or other force imposed tending to turn the pinion II in one direction or the other, is resisted efl'ectively by the triotional engagement between the coil spring arrangement and the walls of the housing II. It will be understood that if a force exerted against the pinion ll tends to rotate the bushing 25 in a clockwise direction (Figure 3), the pushing force against the intumed end 30 of .the spring 21 will expand the spring tightly against the walls of the housing il. Furthermore, it will be apparent that should a force be exerted against the pinion l3 tending to rotate it in a counter clockwise direction (Figure 3), the intumed end II will be pushed causing the spring 28 to expand and i'rictionally engage the walls of the housing. Thus movement in one direction or the other is prevented by the frictional engagement between one or the other oi the springs and the housing i l, and the regulator arm I2 is thus held in the adjusted position, thereby eliminating liability 01 lost motion and play in the arm.

It will further be understood that actuation of the handle stem in the opposite direction or clockwise direction (Figure 3), efiects a reverse or the above conditions, and operates to contract the spring 21 away from housing I! and drag the spring 28. It is not deemed necessary further to describe the operation or the clutch in this direction 01 movement since the same will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

In the alternate form 01' the invention shown in Figure 5, a single helical spring Il may be employed instead oi two helical springs. In this form an intermediate coil is provided with an inwardly projecting portion formed by bending the wire upon itseli and to project inside or the coil. This eliminates the arranging the same be;-

necessity of using the two slots 82 above described, and necessitates but a single slot to receive the projection II. It will be apparent that the action of this spring device is similar to that above described, and one to lock the pinion against movement except by a force exerted by the handle ll.

From the above description it is apparent that I have provided an exceedingly positive and eiiective 'lo'ck, since upon releasing the regulator handle liability oi the pinion turning in one direction or the other is effectively resisted by the action of one or the other of the springs 21 and 2|, or one or the other end portion of the spring 34, depending upon the direction in which the force is exerted. The term spring device", as used in the appended claim, is to be understood as covering botha single spring or a multiple spring arrangement, as above described.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be elected without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a clutch having a cup-shaped housing, a driving member disposed within the housing having diametrically opposed flanged portions, a driven member disposed about said driving member and comprising a substantially U-shaped bushing, a pinion on the outer end or said bushing and rotatable therewith, a pair oi helical springs arranged in the space between said bushings and the inner walls 01' said housing and disposed in end to end relation, said bushings being provided with a path! elongate slots extending inwardly from the free ends thereof, intumed portions on the adjacent ends of said springs disposed respectively in said slots, and inturned portions on the free ends oi said springs disposed between said flange portions 01 the driving memrespectively and the driven member.

DORR MILLER. 

